Valve cover off pics: Camry 4 cylinder engine

[diver1972]

Hi folks.

Long-time "listener", first-time "caller".

The following pictures are from the Camry in the signature block. Due to an increasingly pesky oil leak over the past year, I finally replaced the VC gasket recently. I decided some pics were in order for the membership here. Enjoy!

Some related stats:

Engine: 5S-FE (4 cyl)
Model Year: 1998
Year acquired: 2007
Owner #: 3

Miles at acquisition: 108k
Miles at time picture: 173k

Typical duty cycle prior to acquisition: unknown
Typical duty cycle since acquisition: easygoing to moderate, with only rare aggressive use; about 10 cold starts per week, year-round; about 30% hwy/70% city mix

Oil used prior to acquisition: unknown, but at least some bulk dino used for sure
Oil used since acquisition: exclusively Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30

Oil filter used prior to acquisition: unknown
Oil filter used since acquisition: only Supertech or Purolator Classic

Oil filter change interval prior to acquisition: unknown
Oil filter change interval since acquisition: semi-annually; anywhere from 5k to 6k miles

OCI prior to acquisition: unknown
OCI since acquisition: annual; anywhere from 9k to 13k miles

Top-up oil needed per OCI prior to acquisition: unknown
Top-up oil needed per OCI since acquisition: anywhere from 1 quart (earlier) to a 3 quarts (later)

used oil analysis performed on vehicle prior to acquisition: unknown
used oil analysis performed on vehicle since acquisition: 0

 

[toyota62]

I can assure your Engine is very clean.Seems to be Mobil 1 done a good job there.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Very clean engine.

Now, this is the pipefitter in me coming out. Why are the spark plug wells threaded on the ends? It looks as if they were either partially cut with a pipe cutter (partial cut ring inside the well wall) or the threaded pieces were added to the wells.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Welcome to the forum!

Regarding the threads, they may be ribs at the top to help retain the spark plug lead or coil. It looks like they may stick out of the cylinder head cover about an inch, based on the dark brown "witness line" about an inch down. Just a guess, though.

 

[tig1]

Mobil 1 oils are well known for keeping engines clean. However I would certainly increase your OCIs out to at least 10K. Also welcome to BITOG.

 

[KitaCam]

Looks great!

 

[Donald]

Looks good. You of course need a used oil analysis for your oil!

 

[chubbs1]

Gorgeous! Thanks for the very nice pics! Clean as a whistle

 

[Bill in Utah]

The varnish is not bad and harmless.

Welcome to BITOG!

Bill

 

[Doog]

Top-up oil needed per OCI since acquisition: anywhere from 1 quart (earlier) to a 3 quarts (later)

Not bad for 173k. But one question: How much oil consumption at 5000 miles into the OCI? When do you have to add the first quart?

 

[diver1972]

Originally Posted By: Doog
How much oil consumption at 5000 miles into the OCI?

As of the past year, about 1.5 to 1.7 quarts.

Originally Posted By: Doog
When do you have to add the first quart?

As of the past year (active leak span), at 3-3.5k miles. Before that, about 9k miles, IIRC.

 

[skellyman]

Welcome , looks great !!
So happy to see more Ditto-head's.

 

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
Very clean engine.

Now, this is the pipefitter in me coming out. Why are the spark plug wells threaded on the ends? It looks as if they were either partially cut with a pipe cutter (partial cut ring inside the well wall) or the threaded pieces were added to the wells.

The threads are for these big nuts that thread onto the spark plug tubes that hold the cover in place on the head.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairi...900c152801ccafa

There are no perimiter fasteners around the cover.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: paulo57509
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
Very clean engine.

Now, this is the pipefitter in me coming out. Why are the spark plug wells threaded on the ends? It looks as if they were either partially cut with a pipe cutter (partial cut ring inside the well wall) or the threaded pieces were added to the wells.

The threads are for these big nuts that thread onto the spark plug tubes that hold the cover in place on the head.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairi...900c152801ccafa

There are no perimiter fasteners around the cover.

Nice find there Paulo. Similar to a SBC Vortec head valve cover.

 

[steve20]

Toyota's just have the nicest wearing cams on the market--far and above what a Honda cam looks like at this mileage

 

[vq35de_touring]

Very clean. Welcome!

 

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
Originally Posted By: paulo57509
Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
Very clean engine.

Now, this is the pipefitter in me coming out. Why are the spark plug wells threaded on the ends? It looks as if they were either partially cut with a pipe cutter (partial cut ring inside the well wall) or the threaded pieces were added to the wells.

The threads are for these big nuts that thread onto the spark plug tubes that hold the cover in place on the head.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairi...900c152801ccafa

There are no perimiter fasteners around the cover.

Nice find there Paulo. Similar to a SBC Vortec head valve cover.

Thanks. I used to own an '87 Camry with a 3S-FE.

 

[diver1972]

Originally Posted By: tig1
However I would certainly increase your OCIs out to at least 10K.

Yeah, my average OCI over the past 6 years is about 11k miles. I'd probably go longer if not for only going about 11k miles annually.